Method of regulating electric lights



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METHOD or RBGULATING BLEGTMG LIGHTS. N0. 321,749. Patented July 7, 1885 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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y n 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. J. 8E S. B. PAINE. METHOD' 0F REGIULATING ELECTRIC LIGHTS. No. 321.7459. `Patented July 7, 1885.

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\VALTER J. PAINE AND SIDNEY B. PAINE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF REGULATING ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,749, dated July 7, 1885.

A pplicaiion ilf d May 23, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we. WALTER J. PAINE and SIDNEY B. PAINE, both of the city of' Boston, in the county oi" Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of Regnlating Electric Lights, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to methods for varying theillumin ating effectof incandesei ng electric lamps, the same being an improvement upon the methods already devised by the said Walter J. Paine.

The object we have in view is to make the variations in the light more gradual. rIhis we do by combining the principle of throwing` the lamps into and out of circuit in groups with that of varying the candle-power of t-he lamps of each group both by throwing the groups into and out of arrangements in series and by the use of external resistances.

A special feature of our invention is the progression of each group of lamps through different arrangements of series to increase or decrease the candle-power of the lamps grad ually (through two or more interniediate stages) independent of external resistances.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating means for performing our method, Figure 1 is a top view of a switch with a portion broken away to show the series of resistance-contacts; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the switch; Fig. 3, a bottom view of the turning-disk; Fig, 4, a view, principally in diagram, showing a single switch regulating all the borders of a theater; and Fig. 5 a similar view showing separate switches for regulating such border-lights, the arrangement we prefer.

The construction of the switch in the forni represented is as follows: A circular base, A, of insulating material is used, and this has a depressed center leaving a raised annular periphery, B, which carries the stationary contacts. Within the annulus B turns the disk C, which is mounted on a spindle, D, turned by a suitable hand-wheel, a. The disk and spindle turn together, thespindle passing through a bearing-plate, b, on base A. The disk has a corresponding plate, c, secured to its under or rear side, which sides upon b. Upon the annulus B are secured three long spring-lingers, EF-Gf, and four short springfingers, H+ 1+ K+ L+.

These are stationary contacts, the long fingers and three of the short lingers (except L+) being lamp-contacts, while the short nger L+ is connected directly with the positive pole of the dynamo, or other source of electric energy, by wire 1. The disk has contacts upon two planesan upper and lower plane-the long fingers extending to the former and the short fingers to the latter. The upper pla-ne of the disk has a contact-plate, M which is long enough to bridge the three long lingers. This plate, as shown in Fig. 2, is secured by a screw to the bearing-plate, c, on the back of disk. The bearing-plate b is connected by screw b directly with the negative pole of the dynamo or other source of electric energy by wire 2. and hence the plate M always has a direct connection with said pole of the dynamo. The lower plane of the disk has a long plate, N+, upon which the positive dynamo-contact L+ rests throughout the movement of the disk, except for a short extent at the limit of lowest candle-power. The upper plane of the disk has a bridging contact-plate, O, which is long enough to take in a space equal to the distance from the first to the last of the siX lamp-fingers, it having at one end a continuation, O', on the lower plane of the disk, of sufficient length to bridge the three short lamp-iingers. The upper and lower planes of the disk have connected plates I? P', which are secured by screws d to a metal ring, c, on the rear side ofthe disk. (Fig. 8.) Contact is maintained with ring c by block or brush f on a spring-arm f, the spring-arm being secured to the back of base A, and the block f projecting through an opening in said base and bearing on ring c. On the opposite side of ring B from the lamp-'lingers is located a series of resistance contacts, g. These are vertical wires or plates secured to the inner side of the ring B, as shown in Fig. '2. They are secured to the bights of resistances It, Fig. 4, the last contact. g', being connected with the spring-arm f by a wire, 3, as shown in dottedlinesin Figui. The resistance may be wire or lamp resistances, as will be well understood. The resistance-contacts g g occupy the saine space in the movement of the disk as do the plates l? P, and they are arranged so that the moving contact-springs IOO make connection with one contact before leaving a preceding one. To the periphery ofthe disk Gare secured six springs, h 7i h2 and i i' it, the same in number as the brush-fin gers, which springs rub over the resistancecontacts in succession. The three springs 7i h h'l are secured to the plate N+, while the springs z' yi" il are secured to a plate, Q on the back of disk C. This plate QF is connected by wire 4 with io bearing-plate c,and hence has a direct connection constantly with the negative pole of dynamo. Between such of the contact-plates of the disk as are separated a considerable distance, and are not intended to be bridged by,

i5 the coiitaet-ingers in passing from one to the other, are located breaking-plates,to take the spark when any circuit is broken before the brushes pass on to insulation, which would otherwise be destroyed by the spark. Two 2o such plates are shown-one, k, directly after O and between it and M-, and another, 7c', directly after O/ and between it and N+. Insulating material is shown after the breakingplates; but we may extend the breaking-plates over the entire space, each breaking-plate being divided into sections, each not sufficiently long to bridge any two fingers. Upon the disk Gis a suitable stoparin, Z, which strikes in its movement limiting-stopsm a, t-heforiner 3o stop fixing the limit f'or highest candlepower and the latter for the low-est candle-power.

The connections for a single switch, with lamps regulated by it and forming the border lights cfa theater, are shown in Fig. 4.

5 and G are the positive and negative dyna' nio-conductors. These run to a jiiiictioiibox, o. in which conductors 1 and 2 are connected with 5 and (i. From box o extend conductors 7. S, 9, 10, and 11,12,which run to the borders 4^ shown at the top of the drawings, t-wo borders being developed. The conductors 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11,12 are protected by double-pole safetyeatchesp, and have also double-pole switches q. The switches q are simply used to completely break the circuit to all the lamps of the borders, so that any one or more borders can be taken out of the operation of the regulatingswitch. The two developed borders, R S, are shown, for purposes of illustration, as com` posed each of twelve lamps. The wires 7 8 run to border R; 9 l0 to border S, and l1 12 to a border not shown. The lamps of each border are divided into two sets. The lamps L of one set being connected on one side with the positive conductor 7 or 9, and the lamps L of' the other set being connected on one side to negative conductor 8 or 10. The lamps L are connected on their other sides with conductors 13 l1 15 running to long fingers E- It 6;. G+, such lamps being divided equally among the three conductors, two to each,while lamps L are connected on their other sides in asiniilar manner to three conductors, 16 17 1S, ruiming to short fingers H+ I+ K+. The lamps connected with each finger may be considered a group. In the arrangement shown, the

lamps to be regulated are divided into groups,

half of the groups being connected between the positive pole of the dynamo and the switcli,wliile the rest of' the groups are connected between the negative pole of the dynamo and the switch. In the position of the switch shown the groups are in abalanced series arrangement-three groups being in series with three groups. The long and short springfingers being all bridged or connected together by the plates O O', the current will be from dynamo through positive conductors to lamps L, and from thence by wires 13 1415 to long spring-fingers across plates O O to short spring-fingers, (except L+,) by wires Y16 17 18 to lamps L', and back to dynamo by negative conductors. The lamps of' all the groups will have the saine incandeseenee-that of a red heat. This is an intermediate position of the switch, the stop-arm Znot being against either stop m or n.

Let us observe the changes effected by the switch in turning disk to the left so that arm Zwill move towards stop n,whieh marks the limit of highest eandlepower. rIhe first change results in bringing short finger K+ upon plate P', the spring li striking the resistancecontacts g before K+leaves O', and K+passing from O to P without breaking circuit, the lingers being wide enough to bridge the space between these plates. Now, the group ot' lamps connected with K+ is no longer in series relation with any other group, but is receiving current by wire 1 to finger L+, plate N+, and spring 7i, and through resistance It, wire 3, spring f', block f, ring c to plate P, and from thence by finger K+ and wire 18 to lamps of group and back to dynamo. As the movement of' disk C is continued, the resistance R is cut out of circuit by the passage ot' spring 7iy over contacts g, such spring approaching the last contact, y', (the one connected with ai'in f,) as it advances. IVhen K+ touches N+ the contact g has been reached by z, and the group of' K+ is raised to full candle-powei, it then receiving the full current directly from plate N+. After K+ has left P, finger I+ reaches P, and the operation `just described isrepeated for group of I+, as it also is subsequently for group of finger H+. The groups of" H+ I+ K+ are all at full candle-power, but the groups lf F- G+ are out of circuit. As the groups of K+ I+ H+ pass in succession from I)r the balanced series arrangement which exists when the parts are as shown in the drawings is changed. First, there are three negative (or long-iinger) groups opposed to three positive (or short-finger) groups. \Vlien K+ passes from O there will be three negative and two positive groups opposed. This will result in raising the candlepower of the two positive groups and lowering that of the three negative groups. IVhen I+ passes from O the three negative groups will oppose one positive group, resulting in a further increase of candle-power of lamps of H+, and decrease in candle-power of lamps of EH F G+. Now, when II+ leaves O the lamps IXO of the negative groups will be out of circuit; but since the lamps are intermingled the general effect will be an increase of light, the movement of the switch in this direction producing a regularincrease of the light.

Itwill be observed that the groups of H+ I+ K+ are progressed from low-candle power in series through different arrangements of series,connected separately with a graduallyreduced resistance, and finally connected directly in multiple at full candle-power without breaking the circuit.

Attention is called to the fact that the parts of the switch should be arranged so the groups of K+ I+ H+ in being connected to the resistance through plate P', should start on the resistance at somewhat different points, since they have different candle-power when the fingers reach P', as just explained. When K+ reaches P', h should be on first contact, g, when 1+ reaches P', h' should be somewhat advanced on contacts g, say, one-fifth the distance, and when H+ reaches P', h.2 should be advanced a corresponding distance over h'. This result is readily accomplished in the setting ofthe springs h h' 1L. This is indicated in Fig. 3, the distance between springs h' and h2 being less than that between springs h and h'. As H+ leaves P', G+ reaches P', and reaches the resistanee-contaet. circuit through the resistance, the current, which is reversed through said resistance flowing from dynamo through lamps of group of G+ to G+ and plate I, and via ring e, block f, arm f', wires 3, resistance It, spring i, plate Q+, wire 4, plates c b, and wire 2,

back to dynamo. G+ passes from P to M+ without breaking circuit, and the lamps of G+ are brought up to full candle-power in a multipleare relation, the plate M+ having a direct negative connection with dynamo. Then G+ leaves P, E+ reaches that plate, and after E+ leaves P, E+ makes contact with P, the groups of E+ and E+ being raised in succession on t-he resistance and brought to full candle-power on M+. With H+ I+ K+ upon N+, and E+ E+ G+ upon M+, all the lamps are at full candle-power, and the armZ strikes stop n. The disk C being turned in the opposite direction, effects exactly the reverse of those described are produced. Group E+ is irst thrown upon the resistance reduced in candle-power and put out. Groups E+ and G+ follow in the saine way. Then group H+ is thrown upon the resistance and into series with E+, E+, and G+, and groups I+ K+ follow in same manner. The position shown in drawings is now reached. By further movenient in this direction E+ passes upon 7c, and its circuit is broken. H+ at the same time passes upon K and has its circuit broken. This movement is continued. The circuits of E+ and I+ are broken. H+ passes upon N+, but L+ having left that plate, no circuit is established through H+. Then L+ reaches edge of P', and just before touching O', arm Z strikes in. This is position of lowest candle- The group of G+ is now in i power produced by switch. G+ and K+ are still in circuit and in series with each other. This circuit can be broken at the separate switches q. By increasing the size of the switch it can be made to break all the circuits completely; but we have found that in practice this is not necessary. In moving from the` position shown in the drawings to the limit of lowest candle-power, the candle-power of all t-he lamps is kept at the same low point until extinguished, the groups being thrown out of' circuit in pairs-one negative and one positive together-and hence the candle-power of lamps remaining in circuit is not changed.

In advancing from limit of lowest candlepower to position shown in drawings, the groups are thrown into circuit in pairs, a short iinger reaching O' at the saine time that a long linger reaches O. The series relation is not changed by the throwing in of the groups until the position shown is reached, when the groups are thrown singly upon the resistance, as already explained.

In regulating theater-lights we prefer to connect a number of our switches for simultaneous operation, as shown in Eig. 5. The

spindle D of each switch has a cog-wheel, T, secured toits inner end. The cog-wheels of the switches, operated together, mesh with a central cog-wheel, U, by turning which the disks C of the connected switches are turned. The spindle D of each switch is arranged to have a longitudinal movement in disk C and back board, A, it being kept forward in the position shown in Eig. 2 by the spring i'. In this position wheel T does not mesh with U, and the switch can be operated independent of the switches. By pressing inwardly upon handle a, spindle D will be moved, compressing spring r, and the wheel T' will be caused to mesh with U. This position is maintained by a spring-catch, s, which engages with the groove in spindle D. (Shown in Eig. 2.) Catch s is aspring-rod extending to outside of switch, and having a turned end by which it can be drawn out to release the spindle, when spring r will throw spindle outwardly and release T from U.

To facilitate meshing of T and U, the teeth of the wheels are beveled to edges on facing sides, as shown in Eig. 2, so that they will always mesh. The wheels T are not provided with teeth for their entire circumference, but only to such an extent that the wheel U can turn them to the limits for which they are constructed. Stops t u, upon wheels T, engage spring-arms e on back of A. The stops tu of each switch strike spring-arm c j ust before last tooth of T leaves U. The spring-arm exerts a pressure to force wheel T back on U, so that when movement of U is reversed, all the wheels T will mesh and turn with it. It is the foot-lights.

and the lamps of the set can be varied to any extent independent of the other sets, and at any time two or more sets can be varied together. We prefer to couple switches for all the borders of a theater in this way, and the foot-light switch may also be arranged for simultaneous operation with the border switches; but this is not of so much importance.

It is evident that our method is capable of application to other special uses than those hereinbefore particularly referred to.

Each switch may be designed to control as many or few groups of lamps as may be desired, (two or 1nore,) and each group can be coluposed of a large number of lamps or of a small number, (two or more.)

The switches can be used for regulating incandeseing electric lamps in any of the many locations, and for any of the numerous purposes,in and for which such lamps are now or may be employed when it is desirable to vary the lighting effect.

For domestic use aswiteh could be employed for the lamps of a room or even those of a Single fixture.

rlhe apparatus hereinbefore described is not claimed, since it is the subject of a separate application for patent, Serial No. 152,607.

What we claim isl. The method herein described of raising and lowering the candle-power of incandescing electric lamps, consisting in throwing groups of lamps into and out of circuit successively, and varying the candlepower of the lamps of each group in succession by throwing them into and out of series with other lamps and 4. The method herein described of raising and lowering the candle-power of incandeseing electric lamps, consisting in throwing them into and out of circuit in groups successively, and passing them while in circuit through progressivelyvchanging arrangements in series.

5. The method herein described of raising and lowering the candlepower ofincandescing electric lamps, consisting in throwing them into and out oi' circuit in groups successively, and passing them while in circuit through progrcssivelychanging arrangements in series, and successively into connection with a gradually increased or decreased resistance.

This specification signed and witnessed this 16th day of May, 1885.

VALTER J. PATNE. SIDN EY B. PAINE. 1Witnesses:

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